Bergatino Peninsula

Thus called after the city of Bergatine, formally occupied by the Divine Empire under the Kingdom of Saule. Bergatine was formerly the administrative area for the Divine Emperor, thus giving the peninsula this name.

Bergatino City States

This refers to numerous city states in the north of the Bergatino Peninsula. Establishing themselves as centers of trade and finance, they gained more attention from the Divine Empire around the year 1100, shortly after the First Entrada to the land of the First Prophet. They were for several centuries organized as the Kingdom of Saule under the Divine Empire. Following the Orendal Assembly of 1148 when Emperor Nikolaus I attempts to assert further rights and claims over the cities, they rebel and begin a series of conflicts. In retribution, in 1152, the Divine emperor raises Bertine to the ground. Realizing the necessity of unification, the Saule Pact is signed in 1155. This culminates in the Battle of Montero in 1166, and a five year truce is signed by the cities with the Emperor. It is the Peace of Vinchia, of 1176, that establishes the cities as autonomous. Most of the great noble houses of the cities establish republics, which exist today.

More info on Bergatino City Page (get link)

Paragon States

The Paragon States refers to a group of cities and realms loyal to the de facto leader of the Paragons of the Three Divinities (The Divinity). Initially established in 420 when the Savon Empire embraced the faith of the Paragons of the Three Divinities, the church has maintained control of this region. The head of the church controls the city of Savo, near the western coast of the peninsula.

Often times quarreling with the Divine Emperor, they generally join cause on the Entrada's of the Empire to the Land of the First Prophet. Following the incursion into the northern portions of the peninsula, the Paragon States gave support to the cities in an effort to remove the Divine Empire. Prior to this incursion, centuries past saw the Paragon States at odds with the Eastern Empire since the schism of 450 when the Eastern Empire embraced one Divinity (the Sect of Communion) and established the Eastern Tradition faith. Subsequent to incursions of the Eastern Empire, the Paragon States has dealt with incursions of the Kataro Empire and its radical faith, the Faith of the First Dawn.

The primary head of state are the Reverends of Savo. These are: the Most Reverend Matre Ippolita della Garzone, Matre of the Exoneration; Reverend Patre Piero Dolfin, Patre of the Communion; and Reverend Matre Nezetta Damiani, Matre of the Devotion.

Cities Nearest to Matora

Nearest to Matora is the city of Tasina. In the last decade the former Duca of Tasina has been removed, following a debt to local Ventura for wars battles and campaigns wages in Landro on behalf of the Duca of Tasina. The Cavalieri (knight) Dalmazio Scipioni has instead claimed the city. Despite his family being from near Vinchia and Caroligio supporters, the Reverends of Savo have recognized his claim and accepted his tributes, making Tasina part of the Paragon States.

Southwest of the city of Tasina is Syracca, a larger city state that is far more embroiled in its internal affairs. Some times it is referred to as the City of Towers for this very reason. There are many tower houses here and the families often engage in open warfare on the city streets. The practice here is upon defeat a victor dismantles the tower house of their enemy, taking the valuables to their home. Currently the Duchessa Ottavia Passanante controls the city, allied with two other great families of the city, the Camozzi and the Failla, all strong traditional supporters of the Reverends of Savo and often backers in battles of the Sacario against the Caroligio.

South of Tasina is the city of Galiada. During several sacks of Savo, Galiada stood as home of the Emperor of Savon as well as the home of the Reverends. For a short period of time after the fall of Savon, this was the center of the Paragon Stats, prior to their short stay in Matora prior to the time of the Wandering Reverends. The city is currently under the lordship of Duca Fausto Musilli, elected to the position by their Council of Contes from among the growing aristocracy in the city, the former banker is said to hold the council in check through his many machinations of manipulation and chicanery.

Kingdoms of Borzia and Calpera

These kingdoms had been claimed by the Kataro Empire, establishing its own authority several centuries ago here. Initially known as the Kingdom of Calpera. After the 6th Entrada, nobles and mercenaries from Navagerse had stayed with their noble hosts. When one of the Kingdoms across the Catellus Sea had come to collect tribute, the Navagerse watched as the nobles sought to gather what was demanded. They took charge, attacking and driving back the Kataro Kingdoms from the south of the penninsula. This began a centuries long conquest of Calpera by which the Navagerse established the Kingdom of Borzia.

Santos Corta, to the west across the Catellus joined cause, fighting its own battles against the Katao Kingdoms in their land and fighting to claim the seas near their home, joined the Navagerse. They have claimed the island near the Kingdom of Borzia and have retained the Kingdom of Calpera as a sovereign vassal.

King Gionta Duclos is the present king of Borzia, south of the Paragon States on the mainland. Currently with the support of the Reverends of Savo as well as King Raoul Regnard of Avicorse. It is known he has an alliance with Shaha Kuwa of the Baruti Reign in the Kataro Kingdoms. This was initiated as a mutual trade agreement, to expand Borzia's influence following decline after the War of Calperan Prayers but more so for Baruti Reign as they are rising in power south of the Catellus Sea. Both have in recent years supported the other militarily, much to the chagrin of King Raoul who is too busy with his own problems to make further note of this, the support remains however.

Queen Agnesolla Sanuto resides over several islands, the primary being Calpera itself and from which the kingdom draws its name. At one point Calpera had dominance over southern Bergatino but Navagerse slowly claimed this land and is now supported by Avicorse as well. She has the support of Santos Corso. The head of House Sanuto, she has not yet wed and it is uncertain who this may be. Rumors from the Duke of Bergatine to Prince Orsoro de Galindo, Heir to the Kingdom of Santos Corso.

Avicorse

After the fall the Savon Empire, when the entire western Empire seemed to be collapsing, there came the Kingdom of Edrines. Uniting the peoples to the north west of Bergatino, a second leader of the Divinity was proclaimed, creating a schism among the Paragons of the Three Divinities. This leader in turn proclaimed Aldaric of Edrines as the Divine Emperor. Aldaric lead an Entrada to Savo to exact tribute from the Paragon States. Eventually driven back to their lands, the title Divine Emperor fell out of use here, though the descendants of Avelino control the monarchy/kingdom of Avicorse.

Current Rule: King Raoul Regnard of Montperreux. Montperreux is the center of the Kingdom of Avicorse by virtue of the reign of King Raoul. The city has existed many centuries and was similarly the seat of power for King Adalric of the Kingdom of Edrines. It is here in the Centum di Mariam that the Curate of Avicorse resides. Currently the Curate Matre Helie Delcroix sits over this Centum. Though many of Avicorse still look up to the this Curate as akin to the Reverends themselves, despite the schism having ended centuries ago. There are close ties between the Regnard family and the Delcroix family in Montperreux.

Sworn under fealty:

Duchess Matillis Toussaint of Sauroux. Sauroux is a ruling city in the ducal province of Charbonnat. It has in recent past served as a secondary location for the Reverends of the Paragons of the Three Divinities. In the year 972, the Council of Sauroux reconciled between the realms of Avicorse (formally the Kingdom of Edrines) and the Paragon States, ending the centuries long schism between Reverends. Sauroux is on the southern coast along the Catellus Sea, the only large port city in the region for the realms of Avicorse.

Duke Aroult Beaux of Tellancourt, on the delta of the Tellan River that pours into the western seas beyond Avicorse and Santos Corta. At various times a kingdom of its own, for several generations the ruling family of Beaux has been loyal a vassals for the King of Avicorse. Due to many years of fighting in the south near and around Santos Corta, the alliance between Regnard and Beaux has grown stronger. Some 500 years ago, the spread of the Desert Princes from the realms that are now the Katora Kingdoms into and near Avicorse led to a strong retaliation by Tellancourt to turn back the raiders and following several centuries of reqoncquest of the realms to the south, they are now at odds with the southern kingdoms along the peninsula.

Duke Ernault Dubois of Mailhoc, the only primary ducal province of Avicorse that has no port to any of the surrounding seas. They are the bastion against the Divine Empire, especially since the reconcilliation of the Curate di Mariam in Montperreux and the Reverends of the Paragon States.

Navagerse

A kingdom allied and to the north of Avicorse. Initially settled by sea raiders from north of the current realms of the Divine Emperor, the Navagerse have turned to maritime trade and conquest as the ancestors before them. In recent centuries, they have made conquest of the Kingdom of Calpera of the southern portion of the Bergatino Peninsula. They helped drive back the Faith of the First Dawn and the Kingdoms of Kataro. After which, they continued to settle and make conquest of the Kingdom of Calpera on the mainland. They have established here the Kingdom of Borzia. Presently they are in conflict with Santos Corta, a kingdom which holds several large islands in the western Catellus Sea, including what is left of the Kingdom of Calpera. A small kingdom under King Simun Auffray, 5th of his line, is the ruler of Navagerse.

Divine Empire

King Theobald of the peoples north of the peninsula reclaims the title of Divine Emperor in the year 970, assuring the succession of the Divine Empire. They have long standing quarrels with the Paragon State over authority of the Divinity. As Emperor Alderic had favored the Sect of the Exoneration, so too did King Theobald. The Divine Empire holds authority by divine lineage, a monarchy. This is the basis of much of the quarreling with the Paragon States. While united to drive back the Faith of the First Dawn, the two often unite in Entrada to the Land of the First Prophet, but when they return, the squabbles reignite. A century ago they were driven out of the northern Bergatino Peninsula by the Saule Pact that established the autonomous authority of the Bergatino City States.

Emperor Konrad II Eichenwald of Kirgaard, rule of the Divine Empire. While the Eichenwald hold many distinct and separate lands within the Divine Empire, there are many autonomous rules and kingdoms of the Empire. The primary authority of Emperor Konrad over these myriad kingdoms is in the financial authority to excise taxes due to church and state, of which both are one.

Kingdom of Bohr, King Lukas Windischmann is a sworn vassal of the Divine Empire, located north and west of Matora, southern realm of the Divine Empire. The Windischmann claim many ties to the former Kingdom of Saule and would seek to reclaim many such lands of the Bergatino cities, including Bergatine itself. With strong opposition in Matora to such a conquest despite relations with Bergatine, they have made little headway back into the former city-states.

Duchy of Seterverg, Duke Olaf Hanning. The Seterverg is a province to the west of a prominent river which marks a natural division between Sumrov and the clans to the east from the Divine Empire and the western lands.

Kingdom of Nieuwerode, ruled by Queen Edda Kirchner. The control of the Nieuwerode has made the realm of the Kirchner family nearly impenetrable. This has afforded them the opportunity of often times choose a side to support during conflict. They are well trained and as such, many of their nobles and military minded individuals have become famed as such, including their loyalty to their contracts

To the north of the Divine Empire is the Kingdom of Ranga, ruled by the Warrior Queen Jens Berrefjord. They are a strong ally that has assisted greatly in keeping Sumrov in check during their years of expansion to the west.

Santos Corta

One of several kingdoms to rise up against the Kataro Kingdoms early conquest of the western peninsula ringing the Catellus Sea. Santos Corta has a grip on the eastern portions of this peninsula, putting them adjacent to the Kingdom of Avicorse. Several nearby kingdoms exist on the Pensinula, but only Santos Corta has become an Maritime Kingdom, at odds with Avicorse and Valdona at times.

King Nicollas de Galindo, King of Santos Corta. The Galindo family has been heir to the throne for several centuries in Santos Corta. Nicollas is slowly aging and his heir, Osoro, is as of yet unwed. There are several kingdoms and families of the world interested in this son, such that families of Santos Corta are pressing that he be wed prior to being crowned or that the crown pass to a bloodline relative that has kept to the families of Santos Corta. This is, at present, his cousin Rodrigo Sarria.

The Kingdom of Pomesa resides north and west of Santos Corta on the Peninsula here, at one time sharing a border with the Kingdom of Beaux (now part of Avicorse). Following the conquest of the penninsula from the invaders from the south, Pomesa lost some lands in the east near Avicorse, but holds strongly to the hills and shoreline to the west. The main opposition to Santos Corta on the mainland, they are slowly taking to the seas to trade with the distant north and the Kataro Kingdoms in the south. They do not utilize the Catellus Sea for this endeavor. King Grauiel de Lacarie is the ruler of Pomesa. He continues to strongly oppose King Raoul of Santos Corta as mostly conflict for control of the lands on the peninsula and between them.

Queen Argeda de Galan, Queen of Velan. Velan is torn between traditions of the Kataro Kingdoms and that of the Paragons of the Three Divinities, last of the lands to be reclaimed from the Kataro Kingdoms, there are many families and ties to the kingdoms still, especially the nearest Reign, that of Rashidi, and the 6th Shah Fusani. Relatives of the Shah still hold title in the lands of Velan, as do some of the traditional families of Velan with title and position in the Rashidi Reign. This is very problematic as Velan and Rashidi are often at war with each other, only 50 miles of the western edge of the Catellus sea separate this kingdoms.

Eastern Empire

Initially formed as the Eastern Administrative capital of the Savon Empire, it became its own Empire when the Savon Empire collapsed and has existed for over a thousand years. The faith here adheres to the belief of the Divinities and the First Prophet, Noam, but heavily favors the Sect of Communion. A few centuries prior, the Kataro Empire arose in the east and has now begun to challenge the Eastern Empire for its hold over lands of eastern Catellus. They have also seen a decline to the Lion of Olon, Magnate of the East, who has many conclaves and, having led his hordes west in recent centuries, settling across the sea from the Eastern Empire, near to the realm of Kataro; at least Magnates under the Lion.

Initially separated into five Precincts, similar to the Savon Empire distribution of holdings or the Magnates of Olon, these Precincts were largely autonomous areas of control on the scale of Kingdoms. The last such of these was the Kingdom of Mercurea itself, which has fallen to the Kataro Empire of late, given Kataro a stronger hold on the Sea of Dusk.

Emperor Palladius Diogenus sits the throne of the Eastern Empire. Due to the fall of Mecurea, the final Precinct outside of the capital of Thassaldromo, Palladius is focused on building allies. Accepting the time is past when it was expected neighboring kingdoms would bend knee to the glory of the Empire. Precipate Andras Katona, King of Mecurea, has lost the Precinct but is working to regain the land. Allies from around the Sea of Dusk are being sought, including distant lands remaining as strongholds of the Paragon faith. Though with expansion attempts by the Olon Magnate, it is hard to rally support to push back Kataro.

The current Ascendant of the Temple of Thassaldromo, of the Adherent Shaul, is the Demjen Gregoras. He is in communion with the other Ascendants beyond the Eastern Empire, but the autonomous nature of the Eastern Traditions makes it hard to muster support for a cause such as a nation.

Sumrov

While collectively used to refer to tribes and clans west of the Divine Empire and north of the Eastern Empire, Sumrov is also the current name for a large horse kingdom in the area.
They've moved recently nearer the Dominio Mare to reclaim lands captured by Matora and other city-states as the Maritime Republics have grown, but thanks to the Magnate of Olan, and the push by the Lion of Olon to expand, they've suffered heavy loses. Despite being of superior horsemanship in Sumrov, the superior bowman of Olon on their smaller, faster mounts and the use of specialized bows has shown that the Conclaves of the east are superior in skill and number.

Sumrov started under a local horse lord near the northern seas beyond the Divine Empire. Having gained support enough among the clans to push back against the spread of the Divine Empire, they have united several other clans. Taking a form of governance similar to that of the old Savon Empire, the leader of each clan has a voice in the Folwark, a gathering for said leaders. Here they elect a King for Life, this is not a hereditary title and when the king dies, they elect a new one generally from among their own, but other leaders have been known to receive the election. Currently this is King Doron Milobar, of the clan Ravani. Having risen as a commander of men in fighting of the Olon Magnate, he was readily elected nearly unanimous when King Jaromir Ferudi of clan Maltrite was slain in battle.

Their capital is Chevo and it is quickly becoming a metropolitan city not unlike those of the Bergatino Peninsula. Having acquired wealth through conquest, the Sumrov are surprisingly sophisticated. It is perhaps the propaganda of the Divine Empire to constantly portray them as uncivilized, in attempts to curry favor in Entrada's into the lands of the Sumrov with the hopes to control the northern seas.

The southern portion of their land is a Conclave similar to those of the Olon's. With its own Magnate, the Conclave is autonomous while being sworn under fealty to Sumrov. Mirov is a large city taken from the Eastern Empire, it is believed the Sumrov wish to extend their reaches from the northern seas to the Sea of Dusk near Kataro. It is the Olan horde's recent failed conquest into Sumrov that has halted this advance in the south. Presently Magnate Beres Stanimar of the clan Sorbia oversees the Southern Conclave of Sumrov

Kataro Empire

Several centuries past as the Desert Princes of Sav ruled the area north of the Eastern Catellus. As the Faith of the First Dawn spread, it clashed in the area that would become Kataro with the Eastern Empire. Slowly realms of Sav sought autonomy and following the first wave of the hordes of the Olon Magnate, the Principality of Sav disintegrated. It was Kato the Bull that rose in what would become the capital of Kataro and united many former princes. Likewise, with so many kingdoms along the southern shores sharing the Faith, there has been a gain in power over the last few centuries. With a current understanding between Kataro and the Olon Magnate, this has allowed Kataro to turn its focus towards the Eastern Empire in recent years, as well as driving out various western kingdoms and adherents of the Paragons of the Three Divinities.

Qadari has grown into a magnificent city from the time of Prince Kato the Bull. Arisen from the ashes of the Desert Princes, and once a small realm, Qadari is the capital of the Kataro Empire. The current Padishah resides in a luxurious palace here. Javed, the Bull of Qadari, is the current Padishah. After his father passed two decades ago, the Bull began a series of conquests to strengthen the Kingdom.

This conquest includes the Kingdom of Mecurea to the west and north of Qadari, taken and claimed from the Eastern Empire. This his began to solidify the trade claims of Kataro on the Sea of Dusk, northeast of the Catellus Sea. Mecurea held Pelcortia and Salzia prior to the rise of Matora and its favor for a time with the Eastern Empire which lead to the city-states claim of these dukedoms of former Mecurea.

Kataro Kingdoms

This is a term used to refer to the several kingdoms along the southern shore of the Catellus Sea, generally of the Faith of the First Dawn and generally quick to form aliances with the Kataro Empire. Having at one time or another been principalities loyal to others of the faith, including the Principality of Sav, there is a lineage of coordination at times between Kataro and the Kataro Kingdoms.

Following bloodlines is a matter of importance for these kingdoms, the name of each province or area of control relates to a progenitor of the current

The Rashidi Reign represents the western portions of the Kataro Kingdoms. The Shah Fusani is the 6th Shah of Rashidi. He is currently embroiled in battles with Kingdom of Velan kingdom to the north, across the western edge of the Catellus which separates both kingdoms by merely 50 miles of sea. Many families of Velan hold title and position in Rashidi, in support of the Shah and families of Rashidi likewise still hold similar with Velan making this ongoing conflict a difficult feud.

Just to the east of the Rashidi Reign is the Reign of Dakari. Shaha Teleza is the 10th of her Reign, the Dakari have long reigned in this region. It is the Dakari that had exacted tribute from what is now the Kingdom of Borzia and, as such, they're captains in the Catellus Sea often choose to target and make conquest of ships from both Borzia as well as what Navagerse presense remains.

Where the coast bends south and further east is the next Reign. The Baruti Reign is only in its second generation (third Shah). Here the Shaha Kuwa reigns, a former Sister of Concordance; when her twin sister was poisoned a decade ago, Kuwa left the order to become the Shaha and continue the bloodline. Her relation with the Sisterhood has netted an influx of loyalists from other chapters of the Concordance and she has made gains in land to the east and west of Baruti.

The Reign of Masud is the eastern most kingdom and neighbor of the expanding Kataro Empire. It is in the 15th reign, and traces its roots to well before the Kataro Empire, sharing history and roots with its growing neighbor. Shah Ibrahim currently sits the Golden Throne in Erethyria, the ancient city. With a truce with Kataro, he is hoping to turn his attention so the Baruti rising in the east of his realm.